Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition has been canceled after being on air for 18 years, the show confirmed on Friday. The Punjabi-language sports broadcast expressed gratitude to its audience for bringing the community closer to the beloved game since its debut in 2008.
The show was praised for highlighting the stories of South Asian players and families, creating a unique space in Canadian sports. Rogers Sportsnet, the national NHL rights-holder, described the decision to end the show as a challenging one.
While acknowledging the cancellation was due to insufficient long-term audience levels, the company recognized the significance of the broadcasts for Punjabi-speaking hockey enthusiasts and expressed appreciation for the support received over the years.
Commentator Believes Show’s Mission Will Endure
Jagraj Lalli, a commentator on the show since last fall, expressed his shock at the news of the cancellation. Lalli, who had aspired to be part of the show since childhood, emphasized that despite its end, the legacy of the show in fostering connections and diversity within families would endure.
Lalli vowed to maintain the community’s ties and ensure the bridge between Punjabi language and North American sports remains unbroken.
Besides providing a platform for families to engage with sports, Lalli highlighted the show’s role in offering representation for aspiring broadcasters from the Punjabi community. He shared his emotional debut experience covering a Vancouver Canucks game last year.
Lalli recalled the influence of his great-grandmother in instilling in him a deep appreciation for the Punjabi language and his determination to succeed.
Online Reactions to the Cancellation
Fans expressed disappointment online following the announcement of the show’s cancellation, with many reminiscing about its impact. Some users highlighted the show’s significance in promoting diversity in hockey and serving as a source of inspiration for the South Asian diaspora.
The last season of the show recorded an average viewership of 1,500, with over half of the games attracting fewer than 1,000 viewers, according to Sportsnet.
Bhupinder Singh Hundal, a former member of the show, reflected on its transformative impact on his career and the representation it provided for the Punjabi community on a national platform.
The cancellation follows CBC’s decision earlier this year to end its broadcasting of Hockey Night in Canada after failing to secure a new sublicensing agreement with Sportsnet. In a related move, Rogers Sports and Media also shut down Vancouver’s sports radio station, Sportsnet 650, in July after nearly a decade on the air.
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